Lantana plant named ‘Balucpea20’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant named ‘Balucpea20’, characterized by its yellow, orange, and reddish-purple multicolored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Lantana camara.

Variety denomination: ‘Balucpea20’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lantanaplant botanically known as Lantana camara and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Balucpea20’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inGuadalupe, Calif. during September 2013. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Lantana cultivars with continuousflowering and a moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

The new Lantana cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Lantana camarabreeding selection coded 9087, not patented, characterized by its darkred-colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, low growthvigor and compact-mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of thenew cultivar is BANDANA Peach ‘LANZ0002’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,317,characterized by its yellow, orange, and light red multicolored flowers,medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, relativelycompact and mounding growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered andselected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the abovestated cross-pollination during September 2014 in a controlledenvironment in Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceSeptember 2014 in Guadalupe, Calif. and Arroyo Grande, Calif. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balucpea20’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Lantana plant:

-   -   1. Yellow, orange, and reddish-purple multicolored        inflorescences;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in inflorescence color, darker green foliage color, and a morevigorous growth habit. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants ofthe male parent primarily in being shorter and narrower with a lessrounded growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Lantana cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is Little Lucky Peach Glow‘Balluceagl’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,554. However, in side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of‘Balluceagl’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have darker orange-colored        inflorescences than plants of ‘Balluceagl’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are taller and wider than plants        of ‘Balluceagl’.

The new cultivar can also be compared to Bloomify Mango ‘Baloomang’ U.S.Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,134. However, in side-by-sidecomparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Baloomang’in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter and narrower than        plants of ‘Baloomang’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have flower buds with more yellow        coloration than plants of ‘Baloomang’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller leaves than plants of        ‘Baloomang’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘Balucpea20’. The plants were approximately 5 months old and grown in4.5-inch pots for approximately 15 weeks in a greenhouse in WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balucpea20’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Balucpea20’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in May 2019 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately5-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown ina glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used incommercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in4.5-inch pots for approximately 15 weeks utilizing a soilless growthmedium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 67° F.to 72° F. (19° C. to 22° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting wasused. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplants.

-   Botanical classification: Lantana camara ‘Balucpea20’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection            coded 9087, not patented.        -   Male parent.—BANDANA Peach, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,317.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 11 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 35            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 7 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            upright-mounded.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 15.0 cm. Width: Approximately 26.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances            branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant:            Approximately 5.        -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong,            becomes woody with age. Length: Approximately 10.5 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 1.6 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color of young stem: 144A. Color of            mature stem: 146B becoming woody N199A with age.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:            Approximately 12. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to obtuse angle to stem.            Shape: Ovate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse.            Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:            Approximately 6.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately            3.8 cm. Texture of upper surface: Scabrous. Texture of lower            surface: Scabrous and glandular pubescent along venation.            Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface            of young foliage: 137A with venation of 146B to            indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of young and            mature foliage: Closest to 138B with venation of 146C. Color            of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to NN137A with            139A, venation of 146B to indistinguishable.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Scabrous and glandular            pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balucpea20’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 10 to 12 days from first color of outer            buds to dropping of last flower.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Hemispherical head, axillary or            terminal. Quantity per plant: Approximately 14. Fragrance:            Strong, spicy. Aspect: Facing upward or outward. Height:            Approximately 2.8 cm. Width: Approximately 4.5 cm. Quantity            of fully open flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 30.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Square in cross section.            Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 3.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Scabrous and            glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Color: 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Salverform.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Buds open in            progression from the margin to the center of the            inflorescence. Quantity of unopened inflorescences per            plant: Approximately 8.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, rectangular at            apex. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately            4.0 mm. Color: 16C.        -   Corolla.—Depth: Approximately 2.2 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.3 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 4, non-imbricate, non-symmetrical petals.            Petals are fused at base forming a corolla tube. Shape:            Obovate. Appearance: Dull. Aspect: Flat to cupped. Margin:            Entire to erose, ruffled. Apex: Obtuse. Length of upper            petal from throat: Approximately 6.0 mm. Width of upper            petal: Approximately 9.0 mm. Length of lateral petals from            throat: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width of lateral petals:            Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of lower petal from throat:            Approximately 7.0 mm. Width of lower petal: Approximately            8.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower            surface: Densely pubescent. Color of upper surface when            first open: 12A to 12B with 15A at tube opening and margins            of 12D. Color of lower surface when first open: 4D. Color of            upper surface when fully open: N25C with N25A at tube            opening and margins of N77D. Color of lower surface when            fully open: 17D tinted with N77D on margins.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter at tube            opening: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Densely            pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent with            a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs at tube            opening transitioning to glabrous at base. Pubescence color:            Colorless and 53D. Color of inner surface: 15A. Color of            outer surface: 151D with an overlay of 53D, overlay becomes            heavier with age.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with two broadly acute tips. Length:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at tip: Approximately 1.5 mm.            Diameter at base: Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture of inner            surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely            pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular            hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner            and outer surfaces: 145D.        -   Bracts.—Quantity per flower: 1 per flower. Shape:            Lanceolate. Length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Width:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely            pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent.            Color of upper surface: 137A with 146B at base. Color of            lower surface: 137B with 146B at base.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4, adnate            to corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther            shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Approximately 1 mm.            Anther color: 13B. Pollen amount: None observed. Gynoecium:            Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately            4.0 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma length: Less than 1 mm.            Stigma color: 144B, translucent. Style length: Approximately            3.0 mm. Style color: 145D, translucent. Ovary diameter:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 144B.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Lantana has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plantnamed ‘Balucpea20’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.